Tester For The Blues

Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly admits the pressure is on his team to perform in tonight's UEFA Cup first-round tie against Levski Sofia after their embarrassing early exit in last season's competition.

Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly admits the pressure is on his team to perform in tonight's UEFA Cup first-round tie against Levski Sofia after their embarrassing early exit in last season's competition.

But the centre-back, who still faces a fitness test on ankle and groin problems, believes the Blues can come through the test to take a lead to Bulgaria for next week's second leg.

A year ago Chelsea were still reeling from the sacking of Gianluca Vialli, whose name was chanted by fans as a slender 1-0 lead was established at home to Swiss side St Gallen in the UEFA Cup first round.

Vialli's successor, Claudio Ranieri, was only watching from the stands that night - but when he was then appointed his second game in charge saw the Blues slump to a 2-0 defeat in Switzerland that ensured their demise.

Desailly said: "There is therefore a bit of pressure on this match, and we must avoid under-estimating the opposition.

"They are not the fifth-best team in Bulgaria, but the champions. They were in the final qualifying round of the Champions' League losing narrowly to Galatasaray and, from what we have seen, they are not bad at all."

The defender added: "We have the right spirit. What we must do now is confirm that against Levski Sofia."